- Workshop Equipment
- Tables and Frames
Tables and Frames
A well-equipped workshop should have a sufficient quantity of workbenches, underframes and work surfaces on which the various machines can be set up or manual work can be carried out.
- Larger machines e.g. station machines are – as the name suggests – usually provided with their own underframes or walkways in order to set them up at a certain place in the workshop.
- Most mobile and semi-stationary machines, however, are operated on stands at working height.
Subframes as essential elements of workshop equipment
Mobile machines are kept in a storage rack or cupboard, from which they are retrieved when needed and placed on the workbench, which saves space but usually not practical in the long run. For more convenience, we recommend that these machines are each provided with their own base frame.
- Cutting and mitre saws
- Pillar Drills
- Smaller bandsaws
- Planers and thicknessers
- Belt and spindle grinders
In the case of the router table, the underframe is even an indispensable component that makes many of the functions possible in the first place. With all the above examples, you will ask yourself how often you use the machines. Depending on this, the decision can be made in favour of a stationary workstation with an appropriate base or a mobile solution in which the base is equipped with appropriate castors so that the machine is only pushed to where it is to be used as needed. Different jobs also require different working hands. You should also take this into account when choosing a base, or opt for a height-adjustable base that offers greater flexibility.
Underframes for router tables
The underframe is an integral part of a router table, which shows its full advantages in combination with a built-in router motor and router lift. The fence with stops is mounted on the table top, the safety switch and the connection for the dust extraction system are mounted on the frame, and the corresponding routing unit is mounted under the worktable in the frame.
Underframes for workbenches and assembly tables
In most cases, you will not want to carry out manual work on the floor of the workshop. For many tasks, the classic workbench is the best solution. It is usually equipped with a stable, heavy base frame made of solid wood. But workbenches without front and rear tongs and multifunctional tables with or without a perforated worktop also play an important role in the workshop. They come into their own where the workbench reaches its limits or needs to be protected from dirt or damage: When working with the hand-held circular saw, when sanding (manually or mechanically), when gluing during the final assembly of a piece of furniture and similar tasks. A work table with an underframe for working with surface agents (varnishes, oils, stains) is also often useful. For workpieces of different sizes, a lifting table can be useful whose underframe is designed as a scissor mechanism and allows stepless adjustment. We recommend the RUWI lifting table, which is based on very high-quality workmanship and material quality - Made in Germany.
Underframes for cross-cut and mitre saws
The cross-cut, pull & mitre saw can be described as a semi-stationary machine. If possible, you should provide it with a fixed underframe in the workshop and attach work tables at the sides so that the often long workpieces can be laid down in a stable manner. If there is not enough space in the workshop for this, there should at least be work tables that can be attached quickly. Alternatively, we recommend the Bora Portacube cross-cut saw stand. This not only allows the cross-cut saw to be moved quickly in the workshop, it is also easy to transport for mobile use on the building site or in interior work.
Underframes for surface and thickness planers
Small combined planers benefit greatly from sturdy stationary bases, as they are relatively often used to process heavy or unwieldy workpieces. Vibrations from a light underframe have a direct effect on the surface finish. We recommend the extremely robust KREG Universal workbench for work with a jointer or thicknesser. Planers that are not attached to an underframe also pose a safety risk - they can tip or fall over.
Base frames for drill presses and drill stands
Precise drilling with a drill stand or drill press is made much easier when the machine's work table is relatively high (almost at eye level). Depending on the height of the machine or drill stand, you should choose a base frame that is higher than a normal workbench. The height-adjustable KREG Universal Workbench can be adjusted to between 787 and 991 mm, making it ideal for drilling with drill presses.
Ready-made bases and DIY solutions
With our in-house sauter bases and Kreg KBS bases, we offer a wide range of ready-made systems in various sizes. These can cover most applications. However, if you need a very unusual format or another special solution, we also offer an extensive range of components for DIY construction. In this case, the only limits are your imagination and ingenuity.